When you hear birds singing does it remind you of God’s love or do you simply dismiss it? Fiona shares the preciousness that is in those songs.
“The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.” (Psalm 104:12)
While I was away recently, I was often woken in the mornings, by the sound of birds singing, or calling to each other as they started their day. They sounded so much more awake and alert than I felt! Not all where birds I was familiar with, so it was interesting to lie in the dark and listen, trying to imagine what kind of bird each might be.
In one place, I had been watching a group of birds the previous evening, who were busily flying in and out of a pandanus bush alongside our tent. I knew that the noise I could here that morning, was those lovely little birds I’d been lucky enough to see the previous day. The place we were staying, is a conservation area where amongst other species, they have been building up the number of Purple Crowned Fairy Wrens.
Earlier in the afternoon before I’d seen these wrens, a lady had shared some lyrics with me from a song she’d been listening to. Later she gave me the name of the song, but all I remembered was that the sound of the birds singing early in the morning was “singing like a scripture verse.” (* Holy Now – Peter Maher)
Like a scripture verse–or like a message from God that reminds me where my focus should be for that day. How appropriate to hear the birds singing and remember that, at the beginning of another day.
How often we let the noise of life, drown out the sweet messages from God that come our way. If I find myself bogged down by just how hard life can be some days, I think I miss so much else that goes on around me. Surely God wants me to be focused on Him and all He has done for me. God has created so much around us that is holy, if we will only notice and make that a part of our everyday.
With the Psalmist, I want to “sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” (Psalm104:33)
Prayer: Father, please remind me that my focus needs to be on You each day. Help me to see the “holy” in all that is around me, including the those birds singing. Amen.
About the Author:
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life, and the lessons He is teaching her, as she lives with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to travel when she is able. You can contact her in the Sunroom.
When you hear birds singing, do you stop to notice? Do you ever think of the beauty in how God gave them so many voices? Where do you find holy moments in your everyday life?
We tried to find the video Fiona spoke of, but couldn’t locate it. Here is a beautiful rendition of “His Eye is On the Sparrow” with Lauren Hill.
It reminds me of my Mom!
Fiona, I love the phrase from the song, “singing like a Scripture verse”. As your prayer indicated, it could well be said about God’s varied creations depending on what qualities we are needing to remember the most about Him. When I read your prayer, I read it correctly but then the very ending reconfigured to me into:
Help me to see the “holy” in all that is around me, including the those birds singing, “Amen”.
Thank you Fiona for this devotional that has challenged me & changed me!
I have read this devotional a few times over a few days now. Something about it bothered me. I worked out that it’s because I give the birds a hard time! My best sleeping time is during the morning from sunrise to about midday ‘cos my sleep hormones are completely messed up with CFS. The louder birds wake me & I get frustrated with them. Since reading your devotional my attitude has been slowly changing. “Singing like a scripture verse” keeps cropping up for me when I hear them sing now. I’m now being encouraged with “scripture verses” through their singing. What a blessing & a turn around. Thank you Fiona for being led by the Lord in this.
We often have pretty little blue wrens in the hills near us, They are becoming rare, so it’s a treat & delight to actually see one. Your photo of the Purple Crowned Fairy Wren is stunning. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Thanks for your comments ladies – I’ve just had another look at my original blog of this and noticed I had put the songwriter’s name incorrectly.
It should be Peter Mayer and the song link is: http://youtu.be/CaGnQc5Vmhs if that works OK.
Kerryn, I love the blue wrens and did just get a photo recently of one, with my new camera. The Purple Crowned Fairy Wrens were too quick to photograph, so I’d pinched this photo from the website of the Conservation area. The birds were stunning though!
I was really struck by the phrase “Singing Like A Scripture Verse” – but need to remember what you’ve shared when the annoying pigeons wake me up at home – I don’t see the value in them quite the same and can identify with your morning frustration.